COVID-19 Alert
Blue Cross Blue Shield - Illinois Update
Alert: COVID-19 Updates for BCCHPSM
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) announced plans to help provide members gain greater access to medically necessary procedures, and to remove potential barriers to medical services for participants in BCBSIL’s PPO, Blue Choice PPOSM and HMO plans during the COVID-19 crisis.
BCBSIL also wanted to provide an update on expanded services for ourBlue Cross Community Health PlansSM (BCCHPSM) members, following guidance from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) during this COVID-19 crisis.
Telehealth for BCCHP Members:
Effective 19 2020 March, BCBSIL is covering telehealth, virtual check-ins and portal visits by qualifying Medicaid providers for BCCHP members. This action was aligned with the recent Executive Order from Governor J .B. Pritzker, which expanded telehealth services across the state as part of the continued effort to mitigate the COVID-19 crisis. These services do not require benefit preauthorization, co-pays or deductibles.
Providers are encouraged to review the billing guidelines and provider qualification requirements.
•Telehealth visits are appointments with a qualifying medical professional that are conducted virtually through telephone or video conferencing, or other methods allowed by state and federal law, that typically last for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
•Virtual check-ins are brief 5 to 10 minute discussions with a qualifying medical professional who has an established relationship with the patient.
•Portal visits may be conducted through a provider’s patient portal or secure chat messaging with a qualifying medical professional who has an established relationship with the patient.
•Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) is temporarily extending approvals on services with existing prior authorizations until Dec. 31, 2020. This applies to services that were originally approved or scheduled between Jan. 1, 2020 and April 1, 2020. The extension is for certain non-emergent, elective surgeries, procedures, therapies and home visits.
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Updated: 09 April 2020 00:17:41 UTC